LncRNA CASC9-1 Facilitates Cell Malignant Behaviors in Cervical Squamous Cell Carcinoma by Targeting miR-383-5p to Up-regulate MAPKAP1

Abstract

Cervical squamous cell carcinoma (Cervical SCC) is a malignant gynecological tumor, which greatly endangers the health of global women. Cancer susceptibility candidate 9 (CASC9) has been identified as an oncogene in multiple cancers. However, the role of CASC9-1 (one transcript of CASC9) in cervical SCC remains covered. We analyzed gene expression in cervical SCC cells via RT-qPCR and western blot assays. The impact of CASC9-1 on cervical SCC cell and tumor growth was assessed via in vitro functional assays and in vivo assays. Moreover, the regulatory mechanism of CASC9-1 was explored by mechanism assays. CASC9-1 was up-regulated in cervical SCC cells. CASC9-1 knockdown repressed cervical SCC cell proliferation, migration and invasion while elevating apoptosis. Via in-vivo experiments, CASC9-1 down-regulation was proved to restrict cervical SCC tumor growth. In terms of mechanism, CASC9-1 directly targeted miR-383-5p, and MAPKAP1 was the target gene of miR-383-5p in cervical SCC cells. CASC9-1 could exacerbate malignant behaviors of cervical SCC cells via binding to miR-383-5p and regulating MAPKAP1. CASC9-1 exerted influences on various biological behaviors of cervical SCC cells via targeting miR-383-5p to up-regulate MAPKAP1. All these results mirrored that CASC9-1 might be a potential target for cervical SCC treatment.